Winter Rose

Winter Rose 'Winter Ballet Katie' (Helleborus x hybridus) flowers when almost nothing else in the garden does, opening pink and white through late winter and into early spring. It is a small evergreen clump, about 40cm tall and 40cm across, and it is happiest in the dry shade beneath deciduous trees where most perennials give up. Hard frost does not trouble it in the slightest.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers in the coldest months. Blooms open through late winter and early spring, filling the gap before anything else starts.
• The flowers hold for weeks. Each bloom lasts far longer than a typical perennial flower, so a small planting stays in colour for months.
• A dry shade specialist. Once established it copes with the difficult root filled soil under established trees.
• Frost hardy and evergreen. Genuinely cold tolerant, and leathery divided leaves hold the clump together between flowering seasons.

Where it works best

Mass planting under trees. Plant 40cm apart for a mass planting beneath deciduous trees. At that spacing the leaves close over in two seasons and suppress weeds.

Borders and edging in shade. The low mounding habit suits the front of a shaded border, or a strip along a south facing path where sun rarely reaches.

Pots and small gardens. A 300mm pot holds a clump for several years, and lifting it onto a table at flowering time is the only way to properly see the blooms, which face downward.

Growing hellebores in Australia

Position and climate. Part to full shade, ideally under deciduous trees that give winter sun and summer shade. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens. It needs genuine winter cold to flower well, so it is not a plant for tropical or subtropical gardens.

Soil. Free draining and rich in compost, neutral to slightly alkaline. A handful of garden lime on acidic soil helps. It will not tolerate waterlogged ground through winter.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first two summers to establish the clump, after which it is genuinely drought tolerant. Feed with a complete slow release fertiliser once the flowers finish in spring.

Grooming. Cut the old leaves off at ground level in early winter, before the flower buds push up. This one job makes the difference between a clump you can see the flowers on and a tangle of tired foliage hiding them.

What to expect when it arrives

This hellebore is sold in one size, as tube stock, and it frequently runs on backorder because growing it on takes time. Expect a small plant with a few leaves rather than a flowering clump. Plant it out in autumn, expect a first light flowering in the second winter, and a full clump from the third.

Tube stock travels well and should be planted within a few days of arrival. Water on landing, plant into soil improved with compost, and mulch lightly around the crown without burying it. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse frost hardy plants
• The best groundcovers for shade
• Plants suited to cool climate gardens
• More plants for a part shaded position

Common questions

When does it actually flower?

From late winter into early spring in most cool and temperate gardens, with the timing running a few weeks later in colder districts. Individual blooms then hold on the plant for many weeks.

Will it grow in Brisbane or Darwin?

No. Hellebores need real winter cold to set flower buds, so tropical and subtropical gardens are not suitable. They perform best in cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean climates.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. All parts of a hellebore are toxic to pets if eaten, and the sap can irritate skin. Wear gloves when cutting the old leaves back, and plant it away from where a dog digs.